Department of national defense: Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday said China's reported immigration actions against 100 Filipinos suspected of illegally working and living in China is "plain and simple extortion and blackmail."

According to Philippines News Agency, the Chinese Foreign Ministry earlier said its immigration officials have taken "actions" against over 100 Filipinos for illegally working or living in Macau and Hong Kong. It added that its immigration staff "acted in a standard and civil manner and ensured the protection of the rights and interests of the foreign nationals concerned."

Earlier reports claimed that the Chinese action against the Filipinos is an offshoot of the DND chief's anti-China approach, which includes the arrest of Chinese nationals last May at the Sanjia-Steel Corporation in Misamis Oriental over their handling of "potentially hazardous materials."

"The law enforcement efforts against the Chinese nationals that are referred to in a recent report were done on the basis of search warrants issued by the proper courts. The individuals arrested by the authorities were the principals of these illegal enterprises. Chinese authorities stress the issue of the work visas and passports of these individuals while refusing to address the illegal activities that they perpetuated. This is an admission by them that, indeed, the acts of these individuals were illegal under Philippine law," Teodoro added.

Furthermore, the DND chief emphasized that 'Filipinos in China have neither the intent nor the capacity to commit violations, much less in the scale perpetuated by Chinese nationals in the Philippines.'

"The fact that the Chinese government is actively covering up for these individuals is the best evidence of their complicity in the nefarious acts of these people," he said.